Lady&#39;s girdle



De- 7, 1954 H. M. HERBENER LADY S GIRDLE Filed March l?, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I HSIzTl] /l/LQTIJQILQF. BY @W ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1954 H. M. HERBENER 2,696,002

LADYS GIRDLE Filed March 1'7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent O LADYS GIRDLE Henry M. Herbener, Thomasville, Ga.

Application March 17, 1953, Serial No. 342,895

3 Claims. (Cl. 2-36) My invention relates to girdles or like garments.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the girdle from rolling at the top, holding the same vertically distended in use, and to promote the comfort of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for forming pockets or the like at the top of the girdle without materially increasing the strength of the girdle against circumferential stretching.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a front perspective view of a girdle embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper portion of the girdle, upon an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a vertical section 7taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Figure l,

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the upper end of the girdle,

Figure 8a is a diagrammatic view of the upper end of the girdle, illustrating the manner of assembling,

Figure 8 is a front prospective view of a girdle embodying a second form of the invention,

Figure 9 is an inner side elevation of the band, upon an enlarged scale, and parts broken away,

Figure l0 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the girdle,

Figure 1l is a vertical section taken on line 11-11 of. Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a similar view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken online 13--13 of Figure 9,

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 9, illustrating the insertion of the resilient hoop into the pocket, and,

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the resilient hoop.

In the drawings, attention being called to Figures l to 8 inclusive, the numeral 10 designates the body portion of the gilrdle which is horizontally and vertically elastic. This body portion may be woven or knit. The top of the body portion is provided with upwardly projecting extensions 11, preferably formed integral therewith. These extensions extend completely around the body portion 10 and are circumferentially spaced, providing openings 12. The extensions 11 are vertical and taper downwardly, as shown. The edges of the extensions 11 may be rounded as shown at 13. While I have shown the body portion 10 as integral, it may be formed in sections and may include front or back panels, in which event some of the extensions would be formed upon such panels. When the extensions are formed upon the panels, they could be integral with such panels, and since lthe back panel would have a oneway vertical stretch, the extensions carried thereby would have the same oneway vertical stretch, and if the front panel were not elastic, the same would be true of the extensions carried thereby.

I provide a fabric strip 15, which is horizontally and 2,696,002 Patented Dec. f7, 1954 ICC vertically elastic, but may be horizontally elastic alone. This strip is formed from a woven or knit elastic fabric. The strip may be formed in a continuous ring or it may be formed from a strip having its free ends secured together by sewing or by a zipper or the like. The strip 15 comprises an upper horizontal portion 16 and a lower horizontal portion 17, and the upper portion 16 is foldable outwardly upon the lower portion 16, upon a line 18. Carried by the horizontal portion 16 are extensions 19, extending upwardly in Figure 7, and extending downwardly in use, as shown in Figures l and 2. The extensions 19 are longitudinally tapered and increase in width toward their free ends and have rounded edges 20.

In assembling, Figure 8, the horizontal portion 17 is arranged upon the inner side or beneath the extensions 11, and are secured to these extensions by horizontal lines of zig-zag stitching 21. The strip 15 is in this manner secured to the extensions 11 and the upper portion 16 is next folded outwardly over the extensions 11, upon the horizontal line 18. The extensions 19 cover the openings 12, and the edge portions of the extensions 19 overlap the edge portions of the extensions 11. The edges of the exten sions 11 are secured to the extensions 19 by means of a continuous zig-zag line of stitching 22, and the edges of the extensions 19 are secured to the extensions 11 by a continuous zig-zag line of stitching 23. The lines of stitching 22 and 23 are spaced to form a continuous pocket 24, including upstanding U-shaped portions 25. Each U-shaped portion includes sides 26, which increase in width upwardly, providing large horizontal portions 27, or passages, which connect with several pockets at their tops.

The numeral 28 designates a resilient stiifening element, preferably in the form of a coiled spring, which is originally formed straight. The stitching 23 may be interrupted at a point 24 for the introduction of the stiffening element 28. This stiffening element is fed into the several U-shaped portions 25 of the continuous pocket, and the ends of the resilient stilening element may be secured together by any suitable means, as by a short sleeve, welding or the like. In each pocket portion 25, the resilient stiffening element is bent into a generally U-shaped portion, 28' having sides which are bent in reverse directions, forming curved portions. The U-shaped portions 28 are under vertical tension and bear at their tops and bottoms against the edges of the pocket portions. It is thus seen that when the strip 15 and the pocket portions are stretched vertically, the resilient U-shaped portions 28 will elongate vertically, retaining the pocket portions straight and preventing folding in the garment. It is thus seen that the construction of the U-shaped pocket portions and the resilient stiflening element held therein is such that the normal elasticity of the girdle at the top, vertically and horizontally, is not interfered with, and the resilient stilfening element is permitted to properly function, in preventing rolling of the girdle and preventing folding.

The extensions 11 and the extensions 19 form a band at the top of the body portion 10, and this band is of a single layer, except for the overlapping portions of the extensions 11 and 19 which form the pocket portions. The strip 15 is horizontally elastic and may have the same elastic strength as the body portion 10 or slightly weaker,

whereby the tension will not be materially increased at the top of the girdle, or may be less or may remain substantially the same.

The presence of the U-shaped portions 28 of the stiffening element prevents the girdle from rolling or folding at the top, and these portions 28' tend to hold the garment close to the wearer and will readily yield vertically or circumferentially to promote the comfort of the wearer.

In Figures 8 to 14 inclusive, I have shown a second form of girdle, comprising a body portion 29, which is vertically and horizontally elastic. This body portion may be woven or knit and may be unitary or formed with front or rear panels.

A band 30 is secured to the top of the body portion 29, and this band is vertically and horizontally elastic, and may be woven or knit. The fabric band 30 includes a lower portion 31, and an upper portion 32 carrying extensions 33. These extensions taper upwardly in Figure l0, and taper-A downwardly invuse, Figures-8 and 9. The portion 32 is folded inwardly over the portion 31, upon a line 34.

The band 30V ispreferably first secured to the topof` the body portion 29 by a horizontal line ofy zig-zag stitching 35. The extensions-33 are theniolcled` inwardly upon the portion31, andthe edges of the extensions 33 are secured to the portion 31 by a ziz-zag line of stitching 36. The extensions thus form with the portion 31 an annular group ofpockets 37, whichare U-shaped. These pockets have sides 38 which diverge upwardly. The pockets 37 are closed at their tops and bottoms, as shown, The line of stitching 36 is interrupted upon one side of each pocket, as shown. at 36', for forming a side opening. The numeral 39 designates a resilient hoop, which is preferably originally circular. This hoop is resilient and is preferably formed of a coiled wire.

Asshown in Figure 14, the resilient hoop 39 has a portion thereof which is compressed and inserted into the i;

opening 36. In this manner the entire hoop is introduced into the pocket. The hoop is of a diameter that will require the hoopto be vertically elongated when introduced intothe pocket 37, and this will cause the elon gated hoop to. bear at its top and bottom against the whereby the top of the hoop will be flattened to some extent.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted. to

without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A girdle comprising a body portion which is horizontally elastic at least in part, a band which is horizontally elastic at least in part carried by the top of the body portion and arranged near the waist of the body, said band including generally U-shaped pockets arranged in a horizontal group, said pockets being vertically tapered and increasing in width upwardly, each pocket including outer y side edges and a unitary pocket chamber extending from one outer side edge to the other outer side edge, and a resilient hoop inserted within each pocket, said hoop having its lower portion held in place by the lower portions of the outer side edges of the pocket, the top of the Y 2. A girdle comprising a body portion which is horizontallyelast-icatleast in part, a band which is horizontally elastic at least in part carried by the top of the body portion, said band including sections, one section being folded over the top edge of the other section, the folded over section including vertically tapered portions increasing in width upwardly, a longitudinally extensible line of stitching following the edges of said tapered portions and securing the sections together and forming with the sections pockets which increase in width upwardly, each pocket having a unitary chamber which extends from one outer side edge of the pocket to the opposite outer side edge of the pocket, the line of stitching being interrupted at one outer side edge of each pocket for providing a small opening, and a resilientl hoop passed through the small opening into each pocket, said hoop having its lower portion held in place by the lower portions of the outer side edges of the pocket, the top of the hoop engaging the top of the pocket and the bottom of the hoop engaging the bottom of'the pocket, the upper portions of the outer side edges of said pocket extending laterally outwardly beyond the upperportion of the hoop,V the upper portion of the hoop beingslidable within the upper portion of the pocket, the arrangement being such that when the top of the hoop is depressed the upper side portions of the hoop move outwardly in a generally horizontal direction.

3. A girdle. comprising a body portion which is horizontally elastic at least in part, a band which is horizontally elastic at least in` part carried by the top, of the body portion tobe arranged near the waist of the body, said band including upstanding. pockets arranged in a generally horizontal group, each pocket including outer side edges and a unitary pocket chamber extendingy from one outer side edge to the other outer side edge, each pocket including ay horizontally reduced lower portion and` a horizontally large upper portion which is horizontally longer than the lower portion, and a resilient hoop inserted within each pocket, said hoop having its lower side portions contacting with the side edges of the horizontally reduced lower portion of said pocket to be held in place thereby and its upper side portions spaced from the side edgesof thehorizontally large upper pocket portion, the hoop bearing against the top and bottomv of the pocket, the arrangement being such that the. upper side portions of the hoop are free to move horizontally in an outward direction within the upper pocket portion when the hoop is vertically compressed.

ReferencesA Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,483,367 Glick Sept. 27, 1949 2,583,225 Murphy Jan. 22, 1952 2,585,262 Metz Feb. 12, 1952 2,644,946 Menz etal. July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 982,370 1:."rauce. V Jan. 24, 1-951 244,948 Great Britain Dec. 3l, 1925 

